Basket



Oct. 31, 1950 F. WETZEL, SR 2,528,404

BASKET Filed Oct. 9, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Pl l- INVENTOR. FRED WETZEL.SR.

ATTORNEY Oct. 31, 1950 F. WETZEL, SR

BASKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 9, 1947 INVENTOR. FRED WETZEL SR.

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 31, 1950 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to a ventilated basket suitable for transportationof live animals, without discomfort to them. The basket can also be usedfor carrying other articles such a fresh flowers and vegetables forpicnics or outings. In its simplest form the basket may be made squareor round, but other shapes may also be used and in any desirable size.

A central compartment is in the form of a cage having its floor, topand. upper sides removable for cleaning, and a surrounding tray forholding feed or water, in the case of animals, or candy, fruit orflowers, for human use. A handle is hinged on said tray and is archedover the top for convenient carrying of the basket.

These and other objects and advantages will be understood from thesubjoined description with the aid of the attached drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a basket constructed in accordancewith the invention;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken through thelower portion of the basket;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the device with thehandle in fragment;

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the lid per se.

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the removable bottom per se;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the pivotconnection at one end of the handle, and

Figure 8 is a view in perspective of one of the I cups per se.

In the drawings, l0 generally indicates the cage or container, the lowerpart of which is comprised in a receptacle H, made of a sheet material,preferably sheet metal, and with a removable bottom or floor II. A trayis positioned about the upper end portion of the receptacle H, with theinner edges of its bottom walls turned downwardly to form flanges whichare soldered, or otherwise secured, to the side walls of the receptacle;the outer side walls of the tray [2 having their top edges disposed inthe plane of the top edges of the latter. The corners of the side wallsof the tray are preferably rounded,

as shown in Figure 1, and an arched handle it is pivoted centrally ofopposite sides of the tray.

Some distance below the plane of the tray bottom, a falsefloor It alsois secured in place, within the receptacle by solder or other suitablemeans. This false floor consists of a frame :5,

made of a light gauge angle metal, with a wire mesh l6 soldered, orotherwise secured, thereto.

The lower, open end of the receptacle H is closed by a removable bottomor closure, [1, which fits closely outside the drum and is held firmlyin position by a pair of spring clips 18 fastened on each side of thedrum I l and adapted to snap over studs 23 on the bottom or closure I1.

' The basket is completed by a casing IS! with four flat side Walls 20with straight top and bottom edges and made to fit snugly but removablyoutside the upper end of the receptacle II.

This casing is is made entirel of wire mesh similar to the floor memberl6 and the lid 2!. Other parts of the basket may be made of metal, wood,plastic or cardboard. A removable lid con sists of a square frame 2| onwhich is stretched a wire screen 22. The frame fits snugly over thecasing I9. In some or each of the corners of the drum H may be provideda cup 25 for water and feed if desired.

It will be seen that by supplying the cage portion of the basket withtop, side walls and floor of screen wire, the basket is very completelyventilated. Furthermore, since the cage, lid, upper side walls andbottom closure are detachable, the basket can easily be cleaned whennecessary.

One use of this invention would be as an Easter basket containing anEaster bunny or rabbit, surrounded by fruit, candy, flowers and otherseasonal decorations or vegetables, filling the surrounding tray.

It is to be understood that the invention as herein disclosed may bevaried from the details described and shown without departure from thespirit of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a carrier of the class described, an open ended receptacle, abottom removably supported on the lower end of said receptacle, areticulated floor within said receptacle in spaced relation with respectto said bottom, a tray supported from and extending about the upper endof said receptacle and having the top edges ofits outer wall disposed inthe plane of the like edges of the receptacle, an open ended extensionengaged over the upper end of said receptacle and having reticulatedside walls, a reticulated cover removably seated upon the upper end ofsaid extension, and an arched handle havin its ends pivotally attachedto opposite side of said tray.

2. The carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein the said floor within saidreceptacle and the said cover for said extension of the receptacle eachis comprised in a frame formed of angle metal and a covering of a wiremesh, and said extension is formed of a similar Wire mesh.

3. The carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein the said bottom of saidreceptacle is removably secured in place by means comprised in a pair ofstuds projecting from opposite sides of the bottom, and a clip of flatspring metal is secured on the receptacle to engage with thecomplemental 10 of said studs.

- FRED WETZEL, SR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,045,135 Farmer Nov. 26, 19121,498,197 Pelegren June 17, 1924 1,704,980 Larrabee Mar. 12, 1929

